😆😆 On a tiring week, like last week, I’ve been known listen to the same podcast on successive nights!

I like to listen on long car journeys, so much more interesting than bickering politicians on the news, but please don’t do that if you’re the driver 😉

That’s a good count, Ian. I know Shropshire’s not a great birding county, but I get excited by any flock over 50 🙂

I suspect some haven't noticed, others simply indifferent.

I find podcasts useful for keeping moderately current. The American Birding Association one is excellent, as is "Okay but... Birds".

Both are N American, but ornithology is international!

I think the BTO could make great podcasts.

Wow, assessed with spooky accuracy - I'm impressed! And, joking apart, I've been happy to see the overall more satisfactory AviList system adopted. Not perfect, but good that all the big players seem to be piddling in the same pot now. And I'm personally delighted to see Redpolls get lumped!

When I write bird report accounts for overwintering species I always find the "data is for the last half of one winter and first half of another" thing quite frustrating. I agree that my view might alter if I had to write about warblers!

It's encouraging, isn't it? I suspect many will be overwintering birds from continental Europe. It was a classic early year big count, most of Shropshire's thousand plus records occur in January and February. Just four noted in the most current (2023) Shropshire Bird Report.

BTW, Voous?! Modern nonsense! The Wetmore Order is the one true taxonomy that I was raised on! 🙂

I like the July start because for me spring migration ends in June and by the end of the month the first few failed breeders start to head south again, so I think of late June as a pause after exhaling before nature breathes in new life again. Judge me if you will! 🙂

I like Imbolc too, all the more welcome after what felt like a painfully long January. Like you I’m not a believer of any kind, but it’s good to be in tune with the changing seasons.

I think the Wetland Bird Survey has the birding year sorted though: July to June! 🙂

Excellent! I hope the politicians listen and don’t cave in to the “tradition and identity” numbskulls.

Twenty years after hunting with hounds was banned I hear them every day I work from the office as the kennels dominate the soundscape of the village 😡

Anyway, hoping for 100,000 signatures soon!

Thanks for sharing this, Steve.

Just under 90,000 signatures now, it would be good to break into six figures over the weekend so that MSPs can see the weight of public opinion .🤞

Wonderful, Julian, thank you for sharing this.

There was a lovely rainbow after. Just bad timing on my part but, as you say, go birds! 🙂